More Than 3 Years Out and Struggling???

Hi everyone, as many of you know, I'm having a very difficult time of this after 5 years out of my surgery (March 2004). If you can relate, I'd like to invite you to start up a monthly meeting together - for people who are at least 3 years out of their surgery and starting to regain their weight - for whatever reason, you are regaining and your scared and feeling desperate... I'm right there with you. I'd like to form a group of us to meet once a month for support and to put together some good strategies to turn this around on its head. Let me know if you're interested. Thanks, Maureen

Depending on when and where I'd be interested - it's just hard for me to plan things in the evening - especially during the week because of my schedule (up at 5:00 a.m. - two little ones, etc.) - but I think this is a great idea Maureen and applaud you for leading the charge!


I hope it works out!

Not far enough out. I am up to 199 from my low of 187. I want to cry everytime I weigh. Plus now we are trying to get preggers and that terrifys me too. I know I will gain and I am scared it will all come back and I will be back to 387 and never get it off.

Tammy: Thanks for the advice to Maureen on her other post. It will help me.

Ah, Kathy - it's the struggle that I am feeling most compassionate about. I'm not interested in the length of time since the surgery - just, if you are struggling and you are seeing weight gain and it is scaring you and causing negative feelings that are impeding you in your journey - you belong with this group! Fear is the greatest crippler of living a quality life. And I share your fear! I don't want to be crippled any longer on this journey! I want to bulldoze through that fear and leave it well behind me as I newly embrace a joyful, healthy, passionate life! Are you with me? Any others? I will figure out a centrally located place and time. This is for post-opers who are gaining weight and feeling frightened. Let us know - Maureen

Thanks! It does scare the crap out of me. I never thought I would be only a little over a year out a feeling this bad.

You know the thing about advice is it's easy to give and hard to follow (your own)!

Just so you know - you do not have to gain a ton of weight during pregnancy - actually you shouldn't and there are many women on the post op pregnancy board that have kept their weight gain to a minimum - I myself gained 60 with my first pre-op and only about 20 with Sarah and it was AWESOME not to gain a ton during pregnancy - it makes a big difference even though you feel like you are entitled to eat whatever you want because you are pregnant - it only hurts you in the end - trust me I've experienced it both ways - You might even end up at a lower weight after pregnancy.......

So what's your goal for today?

No sweets. I have become addicted to chocolate again. I do eat a mint to help me with not drinking after I eat. That will be the only sweet I will have.

I am just scared about gaining. I know my mom lost tons of weight when she got preggers with the sibs and she is a non-op. I know there are others on the pregnancy board that have the same fear. I know I will have to gain some but I can just see me getting back up to the 387. Irrational but real none the less.

Me too, Kathy! I never bothered with chocolate at 360 lbs.! But now, it's an addiction unlike any I've ever known.  I keep thinking maybe it has something to do with the new system. I try and try so hard to stay away from it but I'm like an addict... M&Ms, my absolute nemisis. And a woman where I work has mounds of it every day that she makes very accessible to everyone else. I feel quite ashamed about this. Listen, try not to get your planned pregnancy all tangled up with weight regain - having a baby is such a blessing! And, yes, you will gain some weight - but how much will depend on how well you take care of yourself and your little one while you are pregnant. I have every faith that you and your apparently very supportive husband will be just fine. You can plan to gain about 20 lbs. while pregnant but it's all about the baby! You will lose it after having the baby! Don't get the two mixed up in your head, ok? How exciting for you both!! Maureen

Sweets got me to where I was. Today my goal is to get all my water in. I made it yesterday. I knew I wouldn't make no sweets today since I was going to a B-day party.

I'd be interested...I started the group that Kim Daniels had at Middlesex for re-gainers but couldn't continue on because of family issues.

Maybe you can get the hand outs and notes from someone that's done her program to give us some guidance?  I never got them...but know of someone that did...I'll email her and ask.

Just let me know when and where and I'll see if it'll be a good time for me.

I've regained 30 lbs and it's a bother.   I'm not really doing anything about it, but, it's nagging me.  That's why I've not been to Aranow in two years. (no lectures, please :) )

Paula